Fuel-Efficient Mercedes Models
The Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid will be the first gas-electric vehicle to use lithium technology—widely viewed as a breakthrough in energy storage for cars.
The best line about Mercedes Benz’s green car technology comes right from Daimler CEO Deiter Zetsche. He quips, “If you know you're going to arrive a bit late to the dinner party, be sure you bring the best wine." In terms of Mercedes vehicles, expect an entire wine tasting. The company lagged behind the Japanese competition on gas-electric vehicles, but already offers three clean diesel vehicles (unfortunately all SUVs), will soon deliver its first hybrid, and is promising all-electric and fuel cell vehicles before too long.
Of course, any fuel-saving technology will be put in service to Mercedes-Benz’s hallmark qualities: performance and luxury. But in the pursuit of those ideals, Mercedes is breaking new ground by engineering the first clean diesels and the first hybrid—the 2010 S400 BlueHybrid—to use a lithium ion battery. These technologies will be pricey at first, but once Mercedes shows how they can be done, will move into more affordable packaging.
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Mercedes Hybrid and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
| Sort by: | Name | Combined MPG  | Technology | MSRP | Available | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mercedes E320 Bluetec | 27 MPG | Diesel | $52,300 | Now | The E320 Bluetec luxury sedan uses a modern diesel system to deliver efficiency and eco-friendliness. |
 | Mercedes ML 450 Hybrid | 22 MPG | Hybrid | n/a | Now | The Mercedes-Benz version of the Two-Mode system combines a 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and two electric motors. |
 | Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid | 22 MPG | Hybrid | $89,000 | Now | This eco-chic luxury sedan could be the first production vehicle with a lithium ion battery. |
 | Mercedes ML 320 Bluetec | 21 MPG | Diesel | $48,600 | Now | The most popular Mercedes SUV, available in fuel-efficient clean diesel version. |
 | Mercedes R320 Bluetec | 21 MPG | Diesel | $49,100 | Now | A big and heavy luxury station wagon with a clean diesel engine. |
 | Mercedes GL320 Bluetec | 20 MPG | Diesel | $59,200 | Now | The biggest, bluntest, and heaviest clean diesel SUV from Mercedes-Benz. |
Top news for Mercedes
German Hybrids Arrive, With Big Engines and Big Price Tags- Nearly 10 years since the first hybrids hit US roads, BMW and Mercedes both announced pricing this week for their first gas-electric hybrids arriving in showrooms this month. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 will sell for $89,725. The Mercedes ML 450 Hybrid will only be offered on a lease of $659 a month for 36 months, or $549 a month for 60 months.
Mercedes Takes Hybrid Lead Among European Carmakers- It looks like Mercedes has caught hybrid fever. In August, the company launched its Mercedes S400 mild hybrid—the first hybrid from a European automaker and the first hybrid vehicle to use a lithium ion battery. Even more impressive, Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler, is promising a hybrid version of each of Mercedes’s high-volume cars and a plug-in hybrid in 2012.
European Carmakers Embrace Plug-in Cars- The growing list of part- or pure-electric cars to be displayed at next week’s Frankfurt Auto Show establishes a new litmus test for green cars at auto shows: Cars without plugs are behind the times.
Germany Spurs Its Automakers to Produce Electric Cars- Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition parties pledged this week to spend more than $700 million by 2011 on developing electric vehicles, as it tries to put 1 million electric vehicles on German roads by 2020. The preliminary plan, still short on details, is already meeting resistance for not going far enough.
First Drive: Mercedes Benz S400 Hybrid- The Mercedes Benz S400 Hybrid is the world’s first mass produced car with a lithium ion battery. It’s the first Mercedes with a hybrid drive. And, with a price tag likely to approach or exceed $100,000, it’s going to be an ultra-niche vehicle. We achieved 29.3 miles per gallon in a 150-mile mixed driving course though Southern Germany.
Nonsensical Tax Credits Benefit Mercedes Diesel SUVs- One of the nation’s largest consumer incentives for energy-efficient cars—a tax credit of $1,800—goes to buyers of a $60,000-plus hulking diesel SUV that gets 17 mpg in the city. The Mercedes GL320 Bluetec and two other so-called “clean diesel” SUVs from Mercedes benefit from the tax credits. Meanwhile, today’s most efficient hybrids—such as the 50-mpg Toyota Prius and the 41-mpg Honda Insight, selling for $22,000 and $19,800 respectively—are not eligible for any federal tax incentives.
German Clean Diesels Hit Detroit Auto Show- Hybrid and electric cars stole the limelight at the opening of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, running January 17 to 25. But don’t believe for a second that petroleum-powered cars are dead. German carmakers are continuing their push for clean diesel, another technology competing for green car buyers.
Mercedes Takes Swiss Army Knife Approach to Electric Cars- The recently unveiled Mercedes-Benz BlueZero concept vehicles are built with the flexibility to insert electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell technologies into the same vehicle design. It’s easy to dismiss the BlueZero sketches as just another cool green concept car that will never see the light of day, but it could be a glimpse into a future lineup of small Mercedes cars with varying degrees of electric power.
Mercedes Unveils Edgy Electric Concept Cars- Mercedes-Benz will unveil three electric concept vehicles at next month's 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The designs are small and sleek, with a sporty futuristic edge.
Two Paths to Clean Diesel- As more clean diesel vehicles begin to hit the market, consumers should be aware that diesel car manufacturers are taking different technology paths. The two main paths mean different responsibilities for car owners, although the goal is the same: to reduce emissions.